To add to your current selection in GIMP, simply hold down the Shift key while you draw or click with any selection tool.
When working with selections in GIMP, you often need to select multiple distinct areas or expand an existing selection. GIMP provides simple modifier keys to change the behavior of the selection tools, allowing you to easily add to or subtract from your active selection.
Modifying Your Selection in GIMP
The primary method for adding to an existing selection involves using a keyboard modifier key alongside your selection tool (like the Rectangle Select, Ellipse Select, Free Select, or Fuzzy Select tools).
Based on the provided information:
- If you want to add to an existing selection, hold down Shift while you click.
- To remove from an existing selection, hold Ctrl while you click.
This means that after creating your initial selection, any subsequent selection operation performed while holding the Shift key will add the new selection area to the current one.
Quick Reference Table
| Action | Modifier Key | How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Add to Selection | Shift | Hold Shift while drawing a new selection area or clicking with a tool. |
| Subtract from Selection | Ctrl | Hold Ctrl while drawing a new selection area or clicking with a tool. |
| Intersect with Selection | Shift + Ctrl | Hold Shift and Ctrl while drawing a new selection area or clicking with a tool. |
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding
- Create your initial selection using any selection tool. You will see the "marching ants" outline.
- Choose the same or a different selection tool if needed.
- Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
- Draw a new selection area or click (depending on the tool) in the part of the image you want to add.
- Release the mouse button and the Shift key.
The new area will be combined with the existing selection, expanding the overall selected region. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary to select all the desired parts of your image.
Understanding these simple modifier keys is fundamental for efficient selection work in GIMP, allowing for complex selections that aren't possible with a single drag of a selection tool.
